>From:
>Date: Wed, 9 Dec 1998 09:09:55 EST
>To:
>Subject: (no subject)
>
>
>Cornstalk Commanded Indians at Battle of Point Pleasant- Rev War Chief
>Cornstalk, or Colesquo, a Shawnee Indian or Native American, was born in 1727
>in the present confines of Greenbriar County, WV. The group to which
>Cornstalk's family belonged was a migratory group culturally allied to
>Southern Algonquin rather than to the Iroquois. The name "Shawnee" means
>"from the south". The Shawnees originated in the Carolinas and migrated into
>Maryland by the 1600's and into Pennsylvania and during the 1720's and 40's
>they migrated across the Ohio River with the Delaware Indians as a result of
>pressure from the whites. Here in the Ohio country, they were granted land by
>the Wyandotte Tribe and Cornstalk became Chief of the Sioto branch of the
>Shawnee. Cornstalk was the son of Chief Whitefish and a grandson of Paxinosa,
>chief of the Shawnee during their time in Pennsylvania. Paxinosa married a
>Delaware who was a Moravian convert, and Paxinosa was always friendly to the
>whites. Chief Cornstalk and Chief Logan, along with Cornstalk's son, Chief
>Elinipsico, Chief Blue Jacket and Chief Red Hawk, commanded the Indian forces
>at the Battle of Point Pleasant on October 10, 1774. All fought bravely, but
>none of the Chiefs were injured. In 1777, Chief Cornstalk, his son,
>Elinipsico, Chief Red Hawk and another Indian were murdered by irate whites at
>Fort Randolph, Point Pleasant. Cornstalk was first buried not far from the
>camp where he fell, near the intersection of the present Virginia and Kanawha
>Streets in Point Pleasant, but in later years (1841) his remains were removed
>to the court house enclosure.
>In revenge for the murder of Chief Cornstalk's family and of Chief Logan's
>family, the Indians massacured an untold number of whites all along the
>frontier. Of the Indians who participated in the memorable Battle of Point
>Pleasant, two--Cornstalk and Logan-- stand out in bold relief above all the
>rest. In physical development, manly beauty and intellectual capacity, they
>were magnificent specimens of their race. For bravery they could not be
>excelled, and for self-composed dignity of bearing, ease of manner and fervid
>eloquence they would, from the accounts we have of them, compare favorably
>with the best orators of any age. Mr. Thomas Jefferson, author of the
>Declaration of Independence, and who has immortalized Logan and his touchingly
>eloquent speech, thought him the equal of any of the ancient Greek or Roman
>orators. It has been doubted by many whether Logan was the author of the
>speech. However, Col. John Gibson, who was with Lord Dunmore at Camp
>Charlotte, claimed to have heard it direct from Logan and vouched for its
>authenticity. Col. Gibson gives the following account of Logan's speech: "I
>appeal to any white may to say if he ever entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he
>gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not.
>During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his
>cabin, an advocate of peace. Such was my love for the whites that my
>countrymen pointed as they passed, and said: 'Logan is the friend of the
>white man.' I had even thought to live with you, but for the injuries of one
>man. Colonel Cresap, the last Spring, in cold blood and unprovoked, murdered
>all the relations of Logan, not even sparing my women and children. There
>runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called
>on me for revenge. I have sought it. I have killed many; I have glutted my
>vengeance. For my country, I rejoice at the beams of peace; but do not harbor
>a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not
>turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? No one."
>Logan, weighed down by his sorrows, gave himself up to intemperance, becoming
>a sot, and was finally murdered by a brother-in-law, on his return from a trip
>to Detroit. John Hale concludes "That greatness and great misfortunes are apt
>to go together; there are many examples among the illustrious names of the
>white race, and the histories of Cornstalk, Logan, Pontiac, Tecumseh, and
>others, illustrate the same rule in their race. I think most of this came
>from John P. Hale's book.
>Glad to hear that you got to visit your grandfather, Edsel. Seems like
>Thanksgiving or Christmas always make such visits even more special. Lincoln
>County has had a beautiful Autumn with plenty of sunshine and warm weather.
>Have a wonderful Christmas. HRS
>
>
>
>Regards. .